What makes us human? I think that's the essence of so much of JF (Joanna) Penn's writing. In this wide-ranging and fascinating interview I talk to this bestselling author about the elements of her crime fiction that explore issues like why we are disturbed by human bodies once the person who inhabited that body is no longer there. Joanna loves research and travel, and has written fiction that spans the globe, including a recent dark fantasy novel, Risen Gods, set against the backdrop of Aotearoa/New Zealand.Today we primarily discuss her London Detective trilogy, featuring Detective Sergeant Jamie Brooke and reluctant psychic Blake Daniel. I think you'll really enjoy hearing Joanna share what inspires her fiction, and where her curiosity and fascination with history might lead her next.You can find out more about J.F. Penn and her books on her website JFPenn.com. She's also on Twitter and Facebook.Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on iTunes. And listen on Stitcher.You can also click here to watch the interview on YouTube.Transcript of Interview with J.F. PennAlexandra: Hello mystery readers, I'm Alexandra Amor and this is It's a Mystery Podcast. I'm here today with J.F. Penn. Hi, Joanna.Joanna: Hi, Alexandra. Thanks for having me on this show.Alexandra: Oh, you're so welcome. It's so great to have you here. So for the uninitiated, I'll just tell them a little bit about you. J. F. Penn is the New York Times and USA today bestselling author of thrillers with a supernatural edge. Oxford educated, British-born J.F. Penn has traveled the world in her study of religion and psychology. She brings these obsessions, as well as a love for thrillers and an interest in the supernatural, to her writing. Her fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, a kickass, protagonist, and a hint of the supernatural. The London Psychic series, which is what we're going to talk about today, features British detective Jamie Brooke alongside psychic researcher Blake Daniel as they solve dark crimes around London. We're going to talk mostly about the London Psychic series today. I'm a big fan of police procedurals, and so these were the books of yours that I wanted to read the most. I finished "Desecration" a week or so ago. Tell us a little bit about Jamie Brooke. You know, it was kind of heartbreaking to read Jamie's story, and I was curious about what drew you to her.Joanna: It's funny. I wanted to write a straight crime novel. That was what I went into this, because my ARKANE series is kind of action adventure. I moved to London when I started writing this, I've moved from Australia. I was back to London after I think it was 11 years. And I wanted to do something in London, so that was kind of the first thing. I wanted to write a crime novel.Then, and it's a bit of a little longer story, but I'll do it anyway. Back in London, I'm excited about getting to know the city again. And I went to the Royal College of Surgeons, along to a medical specimen museum. And you'll know from the book, the opening few scenes are set here as a dead body is found in the Royal College of Surgeons surrounded by all the medical specimens. And when I visited that museum, I felt very disturbed by the whole atmosphere, and I decided that this visceral feeling was what I wanted to capture in a crime novel. I really started with a setting, which is how I often write. What would be the weirdest thing here? It would be a dead body, although it was surrounded by body parts, it would be someone who's actually been murdered. And then the interesting idea of all those -- who are the body parts in the jars anyway? Where did they even come from, and kind of thinking along those lines. Once I have the setting, I was like, "Okay, so I need a policeman or a policewoman,